Crib side lock



Sept. 6, 1938. H. w. NEUNHERZ 2,129,533

' CRIB SIDE LOCK Filed MarchA 8,' 1957 4 sheets-sh`eet 1 sept 6, 1938. H. w. NEUNHERZ 2,129,533

CRIB S IDE LOCK Filed March 8, 1957 ff 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 6, 1938. H. w. NEUNHERZ CRIB S IDE LOCK Filed March 8, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 6, 1938. H. w. NEUNHERZ CRIB SIDE LOCK Filed March 8, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 a .d 7 j O www. 11/1 a mvp )5 Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 8,

Claims.

This invention relates to a lock for general purposes and capable of holding the vertically movable side of a crib or similar article in its normal elevated position and for releasing the same. 'Ihe principal objects of the invention are to provide a very simple device for this purpose; to provide a lock which will not readily be operated by accident to let the side drop; to provide a lock which is very easy to operate and will not readily get out of order, and to provide a construction for the above purposes in which a member is mounted to reciprocate or turn on the angle iron or the like which constitutes the front of the spring frame and a vl5 bracket, or the like, can be mounted on a crib side frame to be locked in its uppermost position and released therefrom.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a crib showing a preferred embodiment of this invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a front View on enlarged scale of the locking mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2 constituting an end View;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a front view on still further enlarged cale and showing the crib side locked in posiion;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line '1 -'I of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the parts in unlocked position and the side frame drop;

Fig. 9 is a plan as indicated by the arrow 9 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 2` of a modified form of the invention; v

Fig. 11 is a plan of one end of thesame;

Fig. l2l is a plan of the other end of the same;

Fig. 13 is an end view;

Fig. 14 is a sectional View on the line I4-I4 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 15 is a view looking in the direction of 50 the arrow I 5 in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 yis a view of the locking mechanism like Fig. 14 except that the locking rod is turned to the unlocking position;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing 55 another modilication;

1937, Serial No. 129,609

Fig. 18 is a sectional view on the line I 8-I8 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on the of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a View similar to Fig. 18 showing another modication, and

Fig. 21 is a plan of the bracket as indicated by the arrow 2| in Fig. 20.

This invention is shown as applied to a crib and that is the principal use for which it isin'- tended. It can be applied to other bedsand the like which have a side frame, normally held in elevated position and adapted to be dropped.

In the form shown in the rst nine figures, the

frame I0 of the crib supports a horizontal spring v frame II of the usual type. This springframe is provided with a bracket I2 and a bracket I3 on the front. Each of these is provided with a transverse plate I4 perforatedto form a bearing for a pivot rod I5 which, in general, is cylindrical. At two points near the opposite ends it is provided with a flattened section I6 merely by slabbing oif the Vopposite sides. This section, however, does not come at the bearings-but beyond them. At one end this rod has fixed to it a two-pointed stop I'I adapted to bear on the bracket I3 at that end to limit theoscillating motion `of the rod. The other end is provided' with a iixed arm I8 which is connected by a link I9 with a lever 20 pivoted at.2| on a bracket22 secured to the bottom of the angle iron which constitutes the frame II. On the pivot 2| is mounted a spring 23 with one end held and the other end projecting forward and under the lever 20. Two of these levers, of course, are provided, only one of them with the link I9 and they support a trip bar 24 which normally is located just below the edge of the frame II.

It will be seen that the springs 23 at the two ends of the frame, which is made up of the levers 20 and the bar 24, tend to hold these levers forward. When the child is to be placed in the crib the attendant presses against this bar 24 with the knee and pushes it backwardly which results in turning the rod I5 from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 8.

On'the bottom ofthe crib side 21 are two brackets 25 projecting downwardly and inwardly. Each has a circular recess 26, or rathery one which is a little more than a half circle, in which the circular part of the rod I5 fits. 'It is the slabbed section I6 of` the rod which rests in this recess. Consequently when the rod I5 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 8 the vacant space .at the top of the recess permits the brackets to drop from the rod, as shown in Fig. 8. It is this turning of the rod I5 by the action just above described that permits the crib side or drop side 21 to drop. When it is returned the bar 24 has to be pushed back as described to bring the rod I5 to the position shown in Fig. 8. Then, When the crib side is pushed up and the bar released, the springs will return it to the position shown in Fig. 7, which is the locking position. The brackets 25 have diverging sides 28 from the tops of the recesses 26 to facilitate the raising of the crib side.

One of the brackets 25 has a projection 29 which, on its drop, engages the end of the stop I1 and turns this stop, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8, to let the projection pass by and. to turn the rod I5. The springs 23 then turn the rod back by restoring the trip bar 24 ltoiitsnormalposition as shown in Fig. 7. Upon the lifting ofthe crib side 21, the same projection swings the stop back enough toallow the projection .29 topass above the stop and to let the recess receive the rodl5. The springs 23 then restore therod I5 to the position shown in Fig. '7 and the crib side is locked in elevatedl position.

It will be seen, therefore,.that the apparatus for lockinglthe cribfside in its highest position is extremely simple and inexpensive. Furthermore, if a dogor other domestic animal rubs against the tripzbar 24-'heis not likely toset it back so as to releasethe side, nor isitapt to be movedfar enoughfor that purpose accidentally in any other Way. The cost of manufacture and assembly is verysmall compared withany other device that is at al1 safe that is. on the'market.

In the form shownin Figs-10 to 16 inclusive the oscillating rod 30 may extend the whole length of the side ofthe spring frame I I and is so shown. Itis provided with the same kind of `a stop 3| as the one described inthe other figures but shown of different shape. The rodis supported on-"two brackets 32-secured to'the spring. frame. It is also provided with two` sections 33 ofthe same shape, preferably,"as shown in Figs. r[and 8. On the one extreme end is woundA aspring 34 secured at one end 35 to they bracket. 'The other vendengages anf armV 36 "ilired-y to the rod`r30 and normally holds the rod 30 inlocking position. This arm36 has eccentrically pivoted-.to it theend of an operating lever 31 whichnormally'hangs down lat` one endV of the crib nearthe leg thereof Where'it is out ofthe way and where it is not likely to be tampered with by children or domestic animals. This rod can be folded back in the frame for shipping, asshownin Figs-12 andlf3.

The operation is the same as in the other case. Brackets25a' on the crib side are held by the rod against dropping of thev crib side. A projection l38 from one of these brackets operates the stop 3! in a-manner similarto that described with. reference to therst'nine figures. This action is shown clearly inrFig. 16. In this case the advantages are substantially the same as inthe form illustrated.

The invention can be carriedY out by reciprocating the locking rod instead of oscillating it. This is shownrin the two forms illustrated in Figs.. 1'7 to 21. In-Figs. l'lfto 19inclusive thelocking rod 4'0"reciprocateslto lock and unlockthe crib side 21. Inthis instance, the rodis providedA withl two sections'4lof reduced diameter, Awhich may be concentric.

The cribside has tw'o brackets 42' almost like the brackets'25. Whenfthelrod .40 is-in aposition in which the rodlls therecessesin these brackets, the crib lsideis locked. :When it is moved .lon-

gitudinally to a position, as shown in Fig. 18, in which the recesses receive the reduced sections 4I it is unlocked and the crib side is free to drop.

On the rod 40 is coiled a spring 43 located between a collar 44 on the rod and a guide 45 fixed on the spring frame II. Thus the spring constantly tends to push the rod to the right. Stops 46 and 41 are provided to limit the endwise motion of the rod.

On the rod is fixed a slanting cam 48 for cooperating with a similar, but opposite, cam 49- on the crib side. When the rod is moved to the left the r'cam 48 moves with it. The reduced section 4I .link-motion, orthe like, 50 working against the spring 43.

When-the side drops the spring 43 moves the Y rod 40 back to the position shown in Fig. 17.

When the crib side is raised, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 17, the cam- 49V engages the slanting side of 'thecam 48 and pushes it and the rod to the leftuntil the cam 49 passes above the cam-48.

In theormV shown in Figs. 20 and 21 a locking bolt 5I moves transversely to the direction of motion of the rod 40. It passes into a hole 52 in a bracket 53 on the crib side 21. This bolt is moved into lockingposition by a crank motion 54 against a spring 55. The bolt operates between two stops 56 and 51. The bolt has a reduced portion 58.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof I do not wish to be limited to thedetails of construction herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth inthe claims, but what I claim is:

1. The combination with a movable member and arstationary member, of a rod carried by the movable member having a portion thinner than the rest, a bracket on the movable member having a circular slot cut out at the top to provide a notchthrough which the thin portion ofthe rod can pass. whereby, when the rod is turned to such position as to register with the slot, the bracket has no support and will allowvthe'movable member to move, a pivoted foot treadle connected with the rod for moving it into locking position,and a spring engaging the spring frame and the treadle to normally keep the Vrod in a position with the thinner portion horizontal to lock the side `frame in elevated position. y

2. The combination of a bracket having an upwardly opening notch therein, with a slot at the top,.the walls of the notch being nearer together at said slot than at a point slightly below it, a rod oscillatably mounted and having a thinner portion adapted vto enter the notch and hold up the crib side when turned into one position,.two pivotedlevers extending downwardly, a horizontal rodconnected with the said levers, and means for turning the rst named rod by the action of said lever, whereby the latter rod can be turned by manipulation of said levers into a position to allow the side frame to drop.

3. The combination of a stationary bracket having an'upwardly opening notch therein, with a, slot at the top, the walls of the notch being nearer together. at said slot than at a point slightly below it, a rod oscillatably mounted and having a flattenedportion located and adapted to enter the notch when turned away from vertical position, a pivoted lever extending downwardly, a link connected with;said lever, and an eccentric on the rod pivoted to said link, whereby the rod can be turned by manipulation of said lever to bring the flat portion into different positions.

4. The combination of an oscillatable rod having a portion thinner than the rest, a bracket having a circular slot cut out at the top to provide a notch through which the thin portion only of the rod can pass, whereby, when the rod is turned to such position as to register With the slot, the bracket has no support, a lever on the end of said rod, an arm pivotally connected With the lever and adapted to hang down from it for operating it, and a spring surrounding the rod" engaging the spring frame on one end and the arm on the other to normally keep the rod in a' position to lock the crib side in elevated position.

5. The combination With two members, one stationary and the other vertically reciprocable, located closely adjacent to each other, a bracket on the reciprocable member projecting toward the stationary member, said bracket having a substantially circular perforation and opposite slanting surfaces projecting upwardly from said perforation in opposite directions symmetrically, brackets on the stationary member, a longitudinal shaft oscillatably carried by the two brackets, means for oscillating said shaft, said shaft having a flat portion of the full size of the shaft in its long dimension and thin enough in a direction at an angle to the long dimension to pass into the top of said perforation, the said slanting surfaces constituting means for guiding the shaft into said perforation, When the shaft is in a position with its nat portion vertical, a stop on the shaft for limiting its oscillation in one direction to a position in which the fiat portion is horizontal to lock it in the perforation, and a stop on the shaft to limit its oscillation in the opposite direction to a position in which said fiat portion is vertical to allow it to move into and out of said perforation.

HERBRT W. NEUNHERZ. 

